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AntiDepressants
The use of antidepressants to treat add and adhd does not necesarily imply that having attention defecit disorder means that you are suffering from depression. Though that is sometimes the case antidepressants inherantly have some qualities which help with ADD and ADHD treatment.They also offer the advantage over stimulants in that they last for longer periods of time.
Tricyclic AntiDepressants such as Tofranil, also known as Imipramine, or Norpramin, also known as Desipramine are often used when stimulants cannot be used, or have shown a history of negative side effects requiring discontinuation of the medication.
Often if the beneficial effects of the stimulant medication are short lived a switch to AntiDepressants may be considered.
Other AntiDepresants include Elavil, Pamelor, Anafranil, Wellbutrin and Prozac.
If an individual has health concerns such as high anxiety, depression, heart problems or a family history of Tourette's disorder often antidepressants are considered in place of the stimulants.
Quite the opposite of stimulants, the AntiDepressants can be taken before bed often resulting in a much better nights sleep for those suffering from anxiety or depression as part of their ADD or ADHD symptoms.
Most Tricyclic antidepressents come in 10, 25, 50 and 100 milligram sizes. When taken once a day ADD and ADHD symptoms should significantly lessen within the first three weeks of taking the medication, often within the first 10 to 14 days, and remain stable thereafter.
The use of antideppresents both frequently and significantly reduce both hyperactivity and aggression. Changes can be the greatest for those with symptoms of depression and can reduce levels of irritability and improve sleeping patterns.
Side effects from AntiDepressants are usually insignificant, however they can include:
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Increased Blood Pressure
- Drowsiness
Cardiac health should be closely monitored with AntiDepressant medications as it has been known to slow intracardiac conduction especially when taking higher dosages.
AntiDepressants do not seem to be as effective as Stimulants in the areas of improving concentration in ADD and ADHD diagnosed patients. For this reason Stimulants and Antidepressants are sometimes used in conjunction with each other for certain individuals. However stimulants can slow the metabolism of the antidepressant, thereby increasing the amount in your bloodsupply. This is considered to be in no way dangerous and is thought to be a relatively safe procedure.
See Also: Antidepressants and Stimulants